Sky Bet Championship Preview - Part Three

In the third instalment of our week long look ahead, we analyse the challenge that Charlton Athletic, Fulham, Huddersfield Town and Hull City willl pose this season...

In the third instalment of our week long look ahead, we analyse the challenge that Charlton Athletic, Fulham, Huddersfield Town and Hull City willl pose this season...

CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Manager: Guy Luzon

2014/15 League Position: 12th

Latest Results Against Derby: 3-2 Won (H), 2-0 Lost (A)

2014/15 Leading Goalscorer: Vetokele (11)

Summer Signings: El-Hadji Ba (Transfer from Sunderland), Patrick Bauer (Transfer from Maritimo), Ahmed Kashi (Transfer from Metz), Zakarya Bergdich (Transfer from Real Valladolid), Cristian Ceballos (Transfer from Tottenham Hotspur), Naby Sarr (Transfer from Sporting Lisbon)

Summer Departures: Tal Ben Haim (Released), Simon Church (Released), Roger Johnson (Released), Lawrie Wilson (Released), Oguchi Onyewu (Released), Neil Etheridge (Released), Joe Gomez (Transfer to Liverpool), Christophe Lepoint (Transfer to S.V. Zulte Waregem), Chris Eagles (Free)

Sky Bet Odds to Be Promoted in 2015/16: 25/1

One to Watch: Igor Vetokele

Review: Last season saw a considerable amount of change take place at the Valley, with the club recruiting the new manager Bob Peeters to replace Jose Riga whose contract ended with Charlton at the end of their 2013/14 campaign in May.

Peeters experienced a very bright start to his first season in charge of Charlton when he went unbeaten in his first 11 games, a sequence that took his side into the Play-Off positions.

However, their bright start could not be sustained as their narrow wins began to turn to draws and defeats in the winter months – resulting in Israeli boss Guy Luzon coming into replace Peeters in mid-January.

Since the appointment, Luzon has managed to recapture part of Charlton’s form, the manager guided his team to three 3-0 victories against Wigan, Brentford and Huddersfield over a three week period as the Addicks finished right in the middle of the Championship table.

With consistency being the key to success in the second tier, the exuberant Luzon has built on the spine of the side from last campaign during the close season in a bid to see further progress in the 2015/16 season.

FULHAM

Manager: Kit Symons

2014/15 League Position: 17th

Latest Results Against Derby: 5-1 Loss (A), 2-0 Won (H)

2014/15 Leading Goalscorer: Ross McCormack (19 in all competitions)

Summer Signings: Tom Cairney (Transfer from Blackburn Rovers), Luke Garbutt (On Loan from Everton), Andy Lonergan (Free Transfer), Ben Pringle (Transfer from Rotherham United), Jazz Richards (Transfer from Swansea City), Jamie O’Hara (Transfer from Blackpool), Sakari Mattila (Transfer from Aalesunds FK), Andrew Dawber (Transfer from Accrington Stanley)

Summer Departures: Adil Chihi (Released), Tim Hoogland (Released), Gabor Kiraly (Released), Hugo Rodallega (Released), Elsad Zverotic (Cancelled Contract), Patrick Roberts (Transfer to Manchester City), Bryan Ruiz (Transfer to Sporting CP), Ryan Williams (Transfer to Barnsley)

Sky Bet Odds to Be Promoted in 2015/16: 9/1

One to Watch: Ross McCormack

Review: Fulham’s first season back in the Sky Bet Championship was nothing short of eventful.

Tipped heavily to be amongst the sides chasing promotion at the beginning of the 2014/15 campaign, the Cottagers’ season transpired in a way that none would have predicted.

A difficult start to the season, in which the side failed to record a win until September, led to Kit Symons replacing Felix Magath at the helm and with it, he orchestrated a brief revival with a run of two defeats from the beginning of November until Boxing Day.

With the second tier safety eventually confirmed in mid-April, Fulham moved to bolster and strengthen their ranks with their ambitions of challenging for a return to the top flight for the 2015/16 season being clear.

In came highly-rated midfielder Tom Cairney, whilst Like Garbutt and Ben Pringle have also made the move to Craven Cottage in a busy summer for Symons and his side.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

Manager: Chris Powell

2014/15 League Position: 16th

Latest Results Against Derby: 3-2 Loss (A), 4-4 Draw (H)

2014/15 Leading Goalscorer: Nahki Wells (11)

Summer Signings: Callum Charlton (Transfer from Brighouse Town), Jason Davidson (Free Transfer), Jordy Hiwula (Transfer from Manchester City), Dean Whitehead (Transfer from Middlesbrough), Kyle Dempsey (Transfer from Carlisle United), Martin Cranie (Transfer from Barnsley)

Summer Departures: Anthony Gerrard (Released), Jonathan Stead (Released), Martin Paterson (Released), Jake Carroll (Released) Daniel Carr (Released), Connor Coady (Transfer to Wolverhampton Wanderers), Oscar Gobern (Released)

Sky Bet Odds to Be Promoted in 2015/16: 14/1

One to Watch: Jacob Butterfield

Review: Since achieving promotion to the Championship back in 2012, Huddersfield’s two campaigns have seen similar outcomes.

The Terriers finished 17th, before finishing a place better off at the conclusion of the 2014/15 season – placings that Chris Powell will be looking to build on his first full campaign in charge of the Terriers.

The former Charlton boss has a number of attacking options at his disposal, but has added more muscle to his defence and midfield with the signings of Martin Cranie and Dean Whitehead in a bid to cut out the goals they conceded (75) over the previous season and string more consistent runs together to break into the second tier’s top half.

HULL CITY

Manager: Steve Bruce

2014/15 League Position: Relegated from the Premier League Finishing in 18th.

Latest Results Against Derby: 2-1 Won (H), 2-1 Won (A) From 2012/13 Season.

2014/15 Leading Goalscorer: Nikica Jelavic (8)

Summer Signings: Ryan Taylor (Transfer from Newcastle United), Sam Clucas (Transfer from Chesterfield), Chuba Akpom (Loan from Arsenal), Isaac Hayden (Loan from Arsenal)

Summer Departures: Liam Rosenior (Released), Paul McShane (Released), Steve Quinn (Free Transfer to Reading) Yannick Sagbo (Released), Maynor Figueroa (Released), Steve Harper (Released), Joe Dudgeon (Released), Robbie Brady (Transfer to Norwich City), James Chester (Transfer to West Bromwich Albion), Tom Ince (Transfer to Derby County)

Sky Bet Odds to Be Promoted in 2015/16: 9/4

One to Watch: Chuba Akpom

Review: Hull City’s 2014/15 campaign saw the team make their first ever appearance in Europe after reaching the FA Cup final in 2014.

Though brief, their Europa League debut was a significant mark in the club’s history, but their return to the top flight again only lasted two years after they were relegated on the final day of the Barclays Premier League season.

Inconsistency and a glut of injuries proved to be their downfall. Convincing victories over the likes of Liverpool and Everton was a marker of what the Tigers were capable of, but no wins in their final five fixtures of the campaign ultimately proved costly.

A summer overhaul has seen ten players leave since relegation from the top flight, moves that have stripped back optimism ahead of the club’s Championship return.

There is little doubting, though, the quality in the squad, or Steve Bruce’s record at taking teams up from this league, which is likely to show again over the 2015/16 season.